Faretti shoes alternative

Q: How does VAHL compare with Faretti on centimetres?

Faretti is described as offering 5 to 12 cm. VAHL adds **up to 6 cm**, and 5 cm in the Venice loafer. If you want a larger gain, check Faretti's own site for current details.

Q: Does VAHL ship to my country?

We ship from southern Sweden to **Sweden, Norway and the EU**. We do not deliver to the UK.

Q: Are duties included?

Yes. For Sweden, Norway and the EU, **customs, duties and fees are included**, so nothing is added at the door.

Q: What should I check before ordering from any brand?

Check how the lift is built, the **stated centimetres**, the materials, the sole, the sizing guidance, and exchange and return terms. Also confirm whether duties are prepaid and where the shoes ship from.

October 30, 2026

A Faretti shoes alternative, compared fairly before you buy

How to weigh elevator shoes by lift, centimetres, discretion and delivery, and where VAHL Stockholm fits.

See the four models side by side

Browse the VAHL collection and see the exact centimetres on every product page.

Browse the VAHL collection

What to compare before you choose

Start with how the lift is built. A removable insert sits inside a shoe you already own. A thick sole adds height you can see. A fully integrated inner lift is built into the shoe from the start, which is generally more stable than a loose insert. Then check the centimetres, and whether the brand states them plainly. Look at the silhouette, the materials and the outsole. Quality markers include reinforced internal construction, breathable uppers and a natural, non-chunky outer sole. Comfort depends on how the layer under your foot is built, not only on height.

Where Faretti sits in the landscape

Faretti is a name you may come across when you search for elevator shoes. We will not state its heights, prices, shipping terms or return policies here, because we cannot verify them and they change. Check Faretti's own site for current details. Other brands serve Europe too, with different height ranges and materials, so it is worth comparing a few before you decide.

Where VAHL Stockholm is a different choice

We are two brothers from Stockholm, and we built VAHL for one brief: nobody should be able to tell. Every pair has a fully integrated internal lift adding up to 6 cm. There are no thick soles and no removable insoles. In the sneakers, 4 cm is hidden inside the shoe and 2 cm sits in a slim outsole. The height is spread across heel and midfoot for stability and natural posture. Most shoes already add 2 to 2.5 cm, so the visible difference is about 3.5 to 4 cm. Enough to feel, not enough to notice. If you want a much larger gain than 6 cm, another brand may suit you better. We choose subtle.

Sizing, delivery and exchanges for Europe

Before ordering from any brand, check the sizing guidance, exchange terms, return terms and whether customs and duties are prepaid or charged at the door. Ask where the shoes ship from. VAHL ships from a warehouse in Skurup, southern Sweden, to Sweden, Norway and the EU. Duties and fees are included, so there are no surprises at the door. Weekday orders placed before 12:00 Swedish time ship the same day, with a tracking link by email. We guarantee a perfect fit. Size exchanges are easy, and we provide the return label. Returns are accepted with a return fee deducted from the refund. Unsure about size? Email info@vahlstockholm.com. We answer every message.

Choosing between elevator shoe options

Three routes a Faretti-curious buyer might take.

Faretti

A man who has already shortlisted Faretti and wants to compare it with other options. Check Faretti's own site for current heights and terms.

Other European brands

Suits a buyer who wants to compare ranges and materials. Height ranges and delivery vary, so verify each.

VAHL Stockholm

Suits a man who wants discretion in a suede sneaker or loafer. Fully integrated lift up to 6 cm, shipped from Sweden.

Choose VAHL if you want a quiet, clean silhouette, published numbers and delivery within Sweden, Norway or the EU. If you want a much larger gain than 6 cm, compare other brands on their own sites.

Nobody should be able to tell. That was the whole brief, and every pair we make is built around it.

Benefits

Fully integrated inner lift

The lift is built into the shoe, spread across heel and midfoot. No chunky sole, no removable insole.

Exact centimetres published

Each product page states the real figure: 6 cm for Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo, 5 cm for Venice.

Suede that looks like any premium shoe

Soft, breathable, durable suede with Scandinavian minimalism and Italian-inspired proportions.

Duties included, shipped from Sweden

Orders ship from Skurup to Sweden, Norway and the EU with duties and fees included. Weekday orders before 12:00 Swedish time ship the same day.

Easy exchanges, real people

We guarantee a perfect fit, and we provide the return label for size exchanges. Every email to the founders gets an answer.

Which VAHL model suits which man

The city professional in tailored trousers

He wants height for meetings without anyone noticing. Stockholm in blue or Oslo in black suede gives 6 cm in a clean, minimal sneaker that sits well under tailored trousers. The slim outsole keeps the silhouette like a regular premium shoe.

The weekend dresser who likes lighter tones

Chinos, an overshirt, a relaxed day out. Copenhagen in beige suede adds 6 cm and reads as an ordinary suede sneaker. The lift is hidden inside, so the shoe keeps its proportions.

The man who wants a loafer for dinners

A sneaker is not always right. Venice, the blue suede loafer, adds 5 cm and suits smart casual evenings, dates and offices with a softer dress code. The number is stated on its product page, like every pair.

Faretti shoes alternative: your questions answered

How discreet is the lift really?

The lift is fully integrated, so from the outside it looks like a refined suede shoe. Most shoes already add 2 to 2.5 cm, so the visible difference is about 3.5 to 4 cm. Customers tell us the pairs look like any other suede sneaker.

How does VAHL compare with Faretti on centimetres?

VAHL adds up to 6 cm in the sneakers and 5 cm in the Venice loafer, and the exact figure is on every product page. For Faretti's current heights, check Faretti's own site.

Does VAHL ship to my country?

We ship from southern Sweden to Sweden, Norway and the EU. We do not deliver to the UK.

Are duties included?

Yes. For Sweden, Norway and the EU, customs, duties and fees are included, so nothing is added at the door.

What if the size is wrong?

We guarantee a perfect fit. Size exchanges are easy and we provide the return label. Returns are accepted with a return fee deducted from the refund. Email info@vahlstockholm.com if you want help choosing first.

What should I check before ordering from any brand?

Check how the lift is built, the stated centimetres, the materials, the sole, the sizing guidance, and exchange and return terms. Also confirm whether duties are prepaid and where the shoes ship from.

Compare the VAHL models for yourself

Four models, exact centimetres on every page, shipped from Sweden. Not sure about your size? Just ask.